I’ve always been curious why people select a particular career — or start a business.  It’s one of my favorite questions when I interview our customers.  Every answer is an engaging story — and usually an intriguing journey.

Since Machinery Systems is now celebrating 30 years in business, I thought I would reveal why I decided to start our company.  Do we need a drum roll here?  I don’t think so.  My reasons were pretty simple. I wanted to have something to say about my destiny and I had some ideas about manufacturing I wanted to try (CNC machining was very new and seemed to be flush with opportunity for its users).  Also, I wanted to be able to pay for my children’s college and establish some financial security — nothing more complicated than that!  I believe most of us want some of the same things.

I have always tried to give you an opportunity to impact your destiny and have a sense of ownership.  Our profit sharing program gives you a chance to share in some of the benefits of ownership.  We are an organization of very bright, knowledgeable, and creative people.  Our business style is entrepreneurial and we try to hire in that image.  You are a reflection of our style in that you are extremely capable of quickly adapting to our ever changing environment.  I always made an effort to pass you a lot of information so you could confidently make empowered, common sense decisions — and positively impact your destiny.

Machinery Systems has given me the opportunity to create, take chances, make mistakes (without fear of being fired) and to meet and work with very interesting, talented people.  I hope you feel that you have the same opportunities.

It has been my desire to build our organization with a sense of urgency.  Since the beginning our organization has been focused on saving our customers’ time.  In our 30 years, I have seen so many people and companies connected with us grow and prosper.  Mazak was relatively unknown in the U.S. when we started to represent them in 1977.  Sandvik had limited presence in this country in 1981.  They are giants today.  Many of our customers were small, fledgling entrepreneurial businesses.  Today, they are global competitors.  You are among the best and most respected people in our industry.  Even most of those who left us over the years are doing quite well.  I conscientiously surrounded myself with people who excelled at things I didn’t do well.  Also, I made sure to be around only people I could trust. I love hanging with top people and are pleased to have been able to do that most of my career. 

One of the things that bothered me when I was a young business owner was how disappointed I would get with a set back (recession, lost or cancelled order, someone quitting, losing a line etc.).  I took those disappointments personally and sometimes would imagine the worst things (we’re going out of business, going to run out of cash, etc.)  As I grew and matured as a business person, I realized that as long as we stayed focused on our goals and values, the bad thing would pass and we would prosper.

I also love to ask our customers if they ever imagined when they started their business that it would be as big and successful as it is today.  It used to bother me when many owners answered no, that they were really surprised.  As a young, perhaps over-confident owner, I always thought I knew exactly where I was going.  In reflection, I realize how wrong I was.  I confess that I had very little insight that our organization would evolve to where it is today.  I never dreamed that we would still be representing Mazak or Sandvik after all these years.  We grew with them and they grew with us.  The same thing happened with our customers.  It has been like watching my children grow up. As I lived through it, it felt like a lifetime.  As I look back, it looks like an instant.

I’m so very grateful for all the people who have been so important to me in my life and career.   I put high value on my relationships and treasure them.  Thank you for helping me/us to get to 30 years and giving me such a strong sense of accomplishment.

Sincerely,